Feature Story: Hostaged!

Iceberg 1 had a 24-man crew led by a 61-year old Yemeni captain. It was sailing from Yemen to Dubai when pirates aboard speedboats went after the ship, using heavy artillery including an RPG to force the ship to ground to a halt.

This is the story of 31-year old seafarer, Gerald Gonzales, from Iloilo City.

He holds the record for being the longest held Filipino hostage in Somalia.

Gerald boarded Iceberg 1, a cargo ship, way back in 2009 for a 9-months stint as an oiler (all-around shipmate) with a salary of US$350. His contract was to expire on April 12, 2010. But as they say, sh*t happens. Gerald’s ship was hijacked by Somali pirates in March 29, 2010.

Iceberg 1 anchored a few feet from shore. Note high-powered weapon used by the Puntland Maritime Police Force in its rescue mission from land.

According to Gerald, he was sleeping below deck when the fire alarm went off at 8 AM. He was assigned to the night shift, which meant he only had 3 hours of sleep when the pirates attacked the ship. Bleary-eyed, Gerald dragged himself out of his bunk bed and proceeded to the engine room where a shipmate told him that pirates were trying to board the ship.

At first, Gerald thought of hiding in the engine room till the commotion was over. When gunshots continued, he decided to go up the deck and find out for himself what was going on.

The chief engineer who was at the helm of the ship had already abandoned his post upon seeing an RPG aimed at him. The pirates used a handmade ladder to climb the ship with guns and ammo slung across their shoulders.

“The pirates were young. One of them was only 10 years old. He was being trained by the older boys,” Gerald recalled. They would guard the ship for close to three years, taking turns in shifts of 9-13 people. From time to time, the crew would hear shouting matches as the pirates negotiate ransom with the ship owner.

How cruel were the pirates? Very cruel, the lone Filipino crew member said. “They hanged our ship captain from one leg to the mast, and left him upside down for hours. They sliced off the ears of our chief engineer. Both were sent to their individual quarters and they stayed there for more than two years without sunlight, without companionship.”

Gerald is among those seated in front, wearing a cap. The ship captain is the frail man with a white beard in the middle while beside him wearing a head scarf is the chief engineer.

During the first three to six months, the crew were physically okay because the ship had enough food and water provisions for everyone. When the cupboards emptied, they had to rely on the generosity of the pirates. Hunger befell them. The pirates fed them twice a day, but irate at having a bullet-riddled, grounded ship, the Somalis decided to reduce this further to once a day. The crew members slept more as their food intake became less and less.

The ship’s mess hall was converted into a room where all 22 crew stayed and slept. The captain and chief engineer were kept locked in their individual quarters throughout the hostage crisis.

While all these were going on in Somalia, Gerald’s mother, Aurora, flew in from Iloilo City to seek the help of the Blas F. Ople Center. We arranged meetings for her with DFA officials led by Undersecretary Jose Brillantes. Our nearest embassy to Somalia was in Kenya. The post was instructed to do what it can to help coordinate Gerald’s release with the international maritime forces. A navy officer assigned to the international maritime group that acts as an anti-piracy watchdog in the Gulf of Aden received similar instructions. Unfortunately, much of the negotiations took place between the pirates and the ship owner who was based in Dubai.

Twice, he thought of escaping. It was his shipmates that cautioned him against it. Even if he managed to leave the ship, they said, the Somali desert awaits him and other gangs will likely just hold him captive or else, kill him.

The Somali pirates brought herbs on board that they would chew. “It’s like a drug,” Gerald recounted. The more they chew, the more they would mellow. Somali music played in the background when they do this. More dangerous were the times when the pirates felt bored or frustrated. “They would take out their guns and just shoot, aiming at the ears of the crew. It’s a blessing that none of us were hurt when the pirates did this.”

The pirates were angry and frustrated because Iceberg 1 could no longer sail. It had too many holes and the engine was not working. Anchored a few feet from shore, the pirates were mad because they won’t be able to use Iceberg 1 to chase after other cargo ships. Also, negotiations with the ship owner was not going anywhere.

A Yemeni national decided to jump ship in a bid to escape. The crew was unaware that this happened. They only saw the pirates dragging in his dead body. No one else followed his example. The weeks turned into months, months into years. Gerald thought that the world has forgotten the officers and crew of Iceberg 1.

On December 10, speedboats approached Iceberg 1 with members of the Puntland Maritime Forces. One of the speedboats had a long, makeshift ladder that they planned to use to climb the ship while allies including a sniper stationed on land and a helicopter hovering above the ship provided air cover. The ladder broke into pieces when the speedboat managed to come near the ship.

A bullet-ridden Iceberg 1 with speedboat by its side

From December 10 to December 22, the exchange of gunfire between pirates and maritime forces continued. The crew were in their quarters, lying head down, praying not to be hit by the continuous spray of bullets. “Even at night, we would wake up to the sound and smell of gunfire,” Gerald said.

A reinforcement team of 6 pirates tried to board the ship but two of them were shot dead by snipers onboard the helicopter. A deal was offered to the head of the Somali pirates: “leave the hostages behind and we won’t run after you.” The pirates were torn. The deaths of two of their own made up their minds. They left the ship and were not followed. Gerald said that the maritime police was able to get the name of the chief pirate. “They are confident that they would be able to capture the pirates in time.”

Hours after the rescue, members of the crew were being picked up by their respective governments. “India sent a private plane to bring its nationals home. The others were met by their embassy representatives. I was still alone.”

Gerald stayed with the Puntland Maritime Forces in their camp for another 48 hours. A UN team flew him to Kenya for turn-over to the Philippine Embassy. It took three more days for his ticket home to be secured. From Kenya, Gerald flew home via Dubai.

January 4, 2013 was the date of his arrival. Ryan Calzada of Inter-World manning agency welcomed him at the airport together with a representative of the DFA and OWWA. A connecting flight brought him home to his mother, Aurora.

Recently, Gerald visited the Ople Center and shared with me his story. It was a story of courage and faith by a lone Filipino seaman held captive in Somalia from March 2010 to December 2012. He recalled the moments when he would pray hard not just for himself but for the family that was waiting for him to come home.

The International Transport Federation which recently opened its office here in Manila, promised to help Gerald with back wages dating back to the time the was hired. Throughout his ordeal, his family never got an allotment. His salary was never given. Gerald’s battle continues, but this time on the labor front. The ship owner, an Emirati national named Yasser Ali, and his manning agency led by Ryan Calzada, must ensure that Gerald receives the compensation owed him, and all insurance benefits due him.

Gerald is now resting in Iloilo City. I asked him about his future plans. “I still want to be a seafarer,” he replied. But next time, he vowed, he would be more careful in choosing the shipping company to work for.